Proposal for a land exchange between Bow Valley
Wildland Provincial Park and Silvertip Golf Course
What is being proposed?
The Alberta Government is proposing a land exchange between Bow Valley Wildland Provincial
Park and Stone Creek Properties (Silvertip Golf Course) within the town of Canmore.
The Alberta Parks Division requires a small portion of land (0.135 hectares) from Silvertip Golf
Course to protect an important wildlife corridor along a park trail. In return, Silvertip Golf Course
has requested a small portion of land (0.045 hectares) from the wildland provincial park to be able
to reroute a golf cart path for public safety reasons.
The proposed land exchange is considered to be mutually beneficial to Bow Valley Wildland
Provincial Park, Silvertip Golf Course, as well as park visitors and golfers.
Background to Proposed Land Exchange
In 2004, 162 hectares of land was added to the park adjacent to the west side of Silvertip Golf
Course. This land had previously been held as an option for development by Stone Creek
Properties, who relinquished the option, allowing the lands to be added to the park.
Following the inclusion of the lands, Silvertip Golf Course requested to reroute a golf cart path
several meters inside the park to increase public safety on Hole 10. However, as the land was
now included in the park, it was not possible under legislation to allow any new development
within the Wildland Provincial Park. To permit this to occur, the land would have to be legally
removed from the park.
In 2005, the Alberta Parks Division rerouted a hiking / biking trail adjacent to the east side of the
Silvertip Golf Course in order to better protect an important wildlife movement corridor in the area.
To achieve a suitable alignment for the new trail, a short section of the trail was developed on a
small parcel of Silvertip Golf Course lands.
The proposed land exchange will result in no net loss to the size of the park or its natural values.
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park Background
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, located in central Kananaskis Country in western Alberta,
stretches throughout the Bow Valley adjacent to Highway 1. The park preserves and protects
34,446 hectares of alpine, sub-alpine, and montane environments.
The site was established as a Wildland Provincial Park in 1998 under the Provincial Parks Act
with the intent to preserve and protect natural heritage and provide opportunities for backcountry
recreation.
The park was expanded in 2001 to include the Bow Flats and Yamnuska Natural Areas, which
added approximately 2900 hectares of land. In 2004, a boundary amendment was completed
which added 162 hectares of land to the park adjacent to the west side of Silvertip Golf Course.
Recreational Values
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park accommodates widespread use from the local community as
well as tourists from around the world. The park provides scenic and accessible backcountry
recreation opportunities including hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and equestrian
and hunting opportunities. The trail associated with the land exchange is modestly used as part of
a broader network of recreation trails and pathways throughout the Bow Valley.
Natural Values
The park contains diverse landforms characteristic of the Rocky Mountain Natural Region. These
include high ridges and cliffs alternating with shale slopes or colluvial material on lower slopes,
interspersed with glaciated valleys and active river floodplains. As well, several unique and
important geological features are present such as major thrust faults and fossil beds. It also
protects the historic site of Georgetown and several significant archaelogical sites.
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park contains areas of important fish and wildlife habitat and
several rare plant and animal species in the area, including the yellow lady’s slipper orchid. It
contains a regional wildlife movement corridor for wolves, cougars, bears, and elk that move
between and through Banff National Pak, Kananaskis Country, and the Town of Canmore.
LSD 10
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 11
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 12
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 12
Sec.3 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 9
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
Remove
from
BVWPP
4
Bow Valley
Wildland Provincial
Park
LSD 6
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 5
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 7
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 5
Sec.3 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 8
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
Add to
BVWPP
LSD 3
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 4
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
LSD 2
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
Stone Creek / Bow Valley Wildland Park Amendments
Scale: 1:5,000
0
50
100
200
300
®
Meters
Proposed boundary amendment
Park boundary
LSD 1
Sec.4 Twp.25 Rge.10
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Canmore: November 3, 2009.
File Ref: 4_ StoneCreek_BVWPP_20091103.mxd
LSD 4
Sec.3 Twp.25 Rge.10